Fire Looks for Weird Options

3/27/2019 (Permalink)

Anyone who is a fan of top TV show, This Is Us, knows that the central character, Jack Pearson, died because of smoke inhalation and other issues suffered from a house fire started by a faulty crock-pot. Now this is no indictment of crock-pots or any other household appliance or gadget. But this is a cautionary tale for how home and business owners should be diligent about the operational integrity of some of their more “off the beaten path” devices. We all should know that leaving your fireplace in full flame and walking away is a serious no-no, but so is leaving a candle lit and unsupervised for any long stretch of time. Remember, both are open flames and with the passing of a pet, a curious gust of air, the unexpected shifting of a random piece of firewood, hot flames from fireplace or candle can catch rugs, drapes, table coverings or upholstery on fire. A new concern too, are plug-in air fresheners. These smell-good devices are great for keeping a burst of fragrance in the air, but because they operate with heat, they can become dangerous when the fluid reservoir become dry. Always keep these filled when they are plugged in and remove them from the wall, for refilling, once they run out.  Lastly, most of us remember our childhood magnifying glass from our fun times playing science genius, Egyptian sun god or Sherlock Holmes. How can these harmless toys be a fire hazard? Depending on the size and grind of the magnifier and the time of day, late or early sunlight could very well be enough to flow through your windows, hit the magnifier and ignite nearby paper or other loose fuels. That is, if care isn’t taken to move the magnifier out of and away from the operational line of sight. We suggest that fire always be treated with care and caution. But if, God Forbid, the worst happens and your life is derailed by a fire at work or at home, SERVPRO of Southeastern Cuyahoga County technicians are highly trained, experienced and prepared to make sure things turn out "Like it never even happened."